Crews from across the Fylde were called to Alfred Street at 1.40am after reports of flames shooting out of the roof of an empty terraced property.

Around six people were evacuated from their homes on the same block as firefighters fought to prevent the blaze from spreading. There was no-one in the building where the fire started.

Watch manager Ian Richards, of Blackpool Fire Station, said: "Fire crews from across the Fylde coast spent four hours tackling a blaze in a roof in a block of town centre terraced flats.

"A call was received stating a roof was on fire. Upon arrival fire crews from Blackpool were confronted with a serious fire in a second floor bedroom which had spread into the roof and was spreading into neighbouring properties.

"Reinforcements were immediately requested and six front line appliances from Fleetwood to St Annes attended, as did the aerial ladder platform from Blackpool and a specialist mobile fire station which acts as a command point.

"There was severe damage to the second floor and roof of one property but tenacious firefighting from crews prevented the fire from spreading to neighbouring properties."

Residents were allowed back into their homes at around 6am.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation by police and the fire service.